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L Valiquette

Publications and source records attributed to L Valiquette.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis in Canada.

OBJECTIVES: There is a general consensus among physicians that the present management of chronic prostatitis is dismal. We undertook a survey of Canadian primary care physicians (PCPs) and urologists to determine the degree and source of frustration and to analyze present practice patterns in this disease. METHODS: Five thousand PCPs and all 545 Canadian urologists were asked to complete a comprehensive computer-assisted telephone survey that explored practice characteristics, attitudes, and diagnostic and treatment strategies in the management of prostatitis. Randomization of attribute banks, adherence to questionnaire routing, validation by on-site monitoring, and possible bias were addressed. RESULTS: Completed interviews were obtained from 10% of PCPs and 28% of urologists. PCPs see on average 3.5 (median 2) patients with prostatitis per month and urologists see on average 21.8 (median 11) patients with prostatitis per month. All physicians experience significantly more frustration in treating prostatitis than they do in treating patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer, and they perceive that prostatitis affects patients' quality of life significantly more than BPH and almost as much as prostate cancer. The degree of frustration and unhappiness in dealing with prostatitis is driven by a lack of confidence and comfort in their ability to accurately diagnose and subsequently rationalize treatment. Most PCPs and urologists continue to employ steps in addition to history and physical examination to establish a diagnosis but only a few PCPs and a third of urologists use specific lower urinary tract cultures. Physicians tend to use trimethoprim or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) or a fluoroquinolone as their usual first line therapy for chronic prostatitis. The most commonly used therapeutic strategy (40%) for chronic prostatitis was TMP-SMX as first line therapy and a fluoroquinolone as second line therapy. CONCLUSIONS: There is widespread frustration, discomfort, and lack of confidence in both PCPs' and urologists' perceived ability to manage prostatitis. Physicians have expressed a desire for a better understanding of this disease, simpler and clearer diagnostic guidelines, and more rational treatment strategies.

Canada↗

The 1 alpha-hydroxylase locus is not linked to calcium stone formation or calciuric phenotypes in French-Canadian families.

Calcium urolithiasis is often associated with increased intestinal absorption and urine excretion of calcium, and has been suggested to result from increased vitamin D production. The role of the enzyme 1 alpha-hydroxylase, the rate-limiting step in active vitamin D production, was evaluated in 36 families, including 28 sibships with at least a pair of affected sibs, using qualitative and quantitative trait linkage analyses. Sibs with a verified calcium urolithiasis passage (n = 117) had higher 24-h calciuria (P = 0.03), oxaluria (P = 0.02), fasting and postcalcium loading urine calcium/creatinine (Ca/cr) ratios (P = 0.008 and P = 0.002, respectively), and serum 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D levels (P = 0.02) compared with nonstone-forming sibs (n = 120). Markers from a 9-centiMorgan interval encompassing the VDD1 locus on chromosome 12q13-14 (putative 1 alpha-hydroxylase) were analyzed in 28 sibships (146 sib pairs) of single and recurrent stone formers and in 14 sibships (65 sib pairs) with recurrent-only (> or = 3 episodes) stone-forming sibs. Two-point and multipoint analyses did not reveal excess in alleles shared among affected sibs at the VDD1 locus. Linkage of stone formation to the VDD1 locus could be excluded, respectively, with a lambda d of 2.0 (single and recurrent stone formers) and 3.25 (recurrent stone formers). Quantitative trait analyses revealed no evidence for linkage to 24-h calciuria and oxaluria, serum 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D levels, and Ca/cr ratios. This study shows absence of linkage of the putative 1 alpha-hydroxylase locus to calcium stone formation or to quantitative traits associated with idiopathic hypercalciuria. In addition, there is coaggregation of calciuric and oxaluric phenotypes with stone formation.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase↗

[FPSUND: a pan-Canadian evaluation of a clinical classification of urinary incontinence].

Historically, urinary incontinence is divided into 3 subtypes: stress, urge and mixed. This latter group, which according to many studies can account for up to 50% of the patients, is very heterogenous. For this same reason, the reports of treatments of urinary incontinence are very difficult to analyse using this simple classification. In a attempt to clarify this situation and to help the acquisition of useful clinical information relating to urinary incontinence, were have developed a clinical classification of urinary incontinence (FPSUND) in which 6 symptoms are graded in severity from 0 to 3. In this acronym, the F stands for frequency, the P for the use of protection, the S for stress-related complaints, the U for urge-related complaints, the N for nocturia and the D for the number of daily micturitions. Urologists across Canada were sent the French or English version of the classification and used it to evaluate 148 female patients aged from 18 to 70, suffering from urinary incontinence. A second, independent evaluation, was also performed on the same patients by registered nurses or urodynamic technicians. Reproducibility between observers, as assessed by the weighted Kappa score ranged from 0.47 and 0.74 (p < 0.05), was very good. Generally, the users of the classification found it very easy to use. In summary, we propose the FPSUND clinical classification of urinary incontinence as a useful and accurate tool to classify urinary incontinence and as a means to assess treatment outcome.

Adolescent↗

Staghorn calculi treated by percutaneous nephrolithotomy: risk factors for recurrence.

Since 1985 our primary mode of therapy for staghorn calculi has been by percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Between January 1985 and June 1988 we have treated 57 cases using this method. We reviewed the rate of recurrence at a minimum of one-year follow-up and observed a 17 percent recurrence rate. Factors identified that were associated with an increased rate of recurrence were: positive urine cultures during follow-up (55% recurrence vs 12%); stone remnant greater than 5 mm (27.3% recurrence vs 13.8%); and stone complexity (25% recurrence for complex or complete staghorn vs 9.7% for noncomplex or partial staghorn). By identifying these risk factors we think that stone recurrence can be reduced and, with close follow-up, detected earlier to permit less invasive therapy if needed.

Adolescent↗

[Perineal retraining in urinary stress incontinence].

Twenty patients suffering from urinary stress incontinence were treated by perineal reeducation. The assessment included a medical and urological questionnaire, a physical examination, a urine analysis and culture, a cystoscopy, urinary flow and cystometry, a urethral pressure profile and a subjective evaluation of the perineal musculature. The 20 patients selected had documented stress incontinence, had never been operated on for incontinence and had a stable bladder at urodynamic assessment. Treatment was identical for all patients and included 12 biofeedback and electrostimulation sessions over a 4 to 6 week period. The questionnaire, urodynamic and perineal assessment were repeated at the end of treatment. No complication occurred. Micturition frequency decreased in all patients. Clinical correction of incontinence was observed in ten patients, improvement in nine and no change in one for an overall cure or improvement rate of 95%. The urethrocystocele evaluation did not change. Perineal evaluation and urodynamic parameters were only slightly improved. At follow-up evaluation 6 to 9 months post treatment, a 75% cure or improvement rate was still present. Perineal reeducation is a non morbid and effective modality to correct urinary stress incontinence. Its long term efficacy and its use for other types of incontinence has to be demonstrated.

Adult↗

[Urodynamic examination of prostatic adenoma. For what purpose?].

In order to demonstrate that the quality of the functional result after surgery for prostatic adenoma depends on the initial urodynamic equilibrium, the authors performed preoperative cystomanometry and urethral pressure profile, in addition to the standard assessment, in 115 patients. Only vesical acontractility clearly appeared to be a factor of residual dysuria, as it multiplied the risk by a factor of 3. In contrast, the values for the urethral pressure profile did not have any predictive value on incontinence, probably because they were modified by the operation. However, and understanding of the vesico-sphincteric equilibrium can lead to a modification of the therapeutic indications in certain circumstances in which this equilibrium appears to be particularly precarious.

Aged↗

[Immediate complications of transurethral resection of the prostate: study of 1000 consecutive cases].

The authors reviewed the charts of 1000 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate. When the 30-day postoperative period was studied, it was found that 139 patients suffered complications and 6 died. Infectious complications (urinary tract in 63 cases and septicemia in 23 cases) were the commonest followed by hemorrhage and urinary retention. The deaths were related to cardiac problems.

Aged↗

PICA/burden: a staging system for upper tract urinary stones.

A staging system is proposed to stratify upper urinary tract stones by their complexity, location and burden. Burden is defined as the sum of the longest axial diameter of all stones. The kidney is divided into 3 cavities (pelvis, branches or infundibula and calices). The ureter is defined according to 4 segments (upper, middle, lower and juxtavesical). Special descriptors (sand, match heads and fragments) are defined. The use of a scoring diagram allows for a concise description of the complexity and burden of stone in each renal and ureteral cavity. The system facilitates computerized stratification of upper tract stones.

Humans↗

[Lack of conviction about vaccination in certain Quebec vaccinators].

A questionnaire was mailed to all vaccinators in Quebec in 1998. The objective of this survey was to document vaccinators' attitudes, knowledge, and practices related to vaccination. Vaccinators generally believe in the security, efficacy and usefulness of vaccines given to young children. However, 41% of nurses do not fully agree with these opinions. More than 94% of pediatricians completely disagree that "certain practices (homeopathy, good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle) can eliminate the need for vaccination", compared with 85% of general practitioners and only 60% of nurses. Less than 25% of doctors recall children who are late in getting their immunizations; approximately 45% of vaccinators are in complete agreement with simultaneous injections of two vaccines; many circumstances are incorrectly seen as contra indications for vaccination. Public health authorities should target systematic interventions towards vaccinators to improve this situation and to increase nurses' conviction regarding the benefits of vaccination.

Adult↗

[Evaluation of a program to promote hepatitis B vaccination among adolescents in a school environment of Central Montreal].

OBJECTIVE: We developed a hepatitis B vaccination promotion project aimed at Montreal-area adolescents. A student leaflet, teacher's guide and classroom poster were developed. Our objectives were to have 25% of teachers give a course on hepatitis B and 25% of students begin vaccination against hepatitis B. METHOD: The promotional campaign was aimed at 100,000 students in 225 public and private secondary schools. The evaluation was carried out six months after the beginning of the campaign. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires to students (n = 206), teachers (n = 128) and school nurses (n = 30). RESULTS: Two thirds of teachers used the material and 45% gave a course on the subject. The teachers who gave the course felt knowledgeable about teaching the subject and felt that the subject was important. Six months after the beginning of the campaign, 38% of secondary students had received at least one dose of vaccine. CONCLUSION: The promotional material was appreciated by both students and teachers and used during secondary school classes. Teachers, when given appropriate tools and supported by school nurses, are highly motivated to pass on preventive heath messages to their students.

Adolescent↗

[Ureteroscopy versus in situ extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in the treatment of calculi of the distal ureter].

In a retrospective study from a unique center (St. Luc Hospital, Montreal) stone clearance of 88 consecutive distal ureteral calculi (below pelvic brim) treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in situ were compared to a group of 94 distal ureteral calculi treated by ureteroscopy during the same period. Our results show 84% success rate for ureteroscopy which is clearly superior than 58% stone clearance rate at 3 month follow-up for ESWL Success rate was influenced by stone size in the ESWL group but not in the ureteroscopy group. This study reveals similar success rate for calculi smaller than 6 mm but for larger calculi, success rate of ureteroscopy is significantly superior.

Adolescent↗